8 minute read
BUSINESS
from Issue #1299
KGroup: Highest Quality Standard in Production of Metal Products
BY ARCHIL GELASHVILI
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The construction and repair industry in Georgia has been growing and developing over the years. The competition in this fi eld is big, and to attract the interest of potential customers, companies use their unique features and competitive advantages. It is with this such stand-out features and loyalty to work that for seven years now, the company Kgroup has been working successfully on the Georgian market, which, in addition to construction and repair services, is a metal goods enterprise equipped with the highest quality modern technologies.
Since 2014, KGroup has managed to establish leading positions in the construction and repair industry, as well as in the metal products industry. Today, the company has two enterprises in Rustavi and Kutaisi, which allows it to serve customers virtually throughout Georgia, while being headquartered in Tbilisi. Their enterprises are equipped with modern technologies and unite certifi ed and experienced professionals who are responsible for the highest quality fi nal product.
KGroup is a construction and repair company, although their main focus is on metal products. It is equally successful in the manufacturing of metal gates, railings, grilles and household items, as well as metal structures for large, industrial constructions. A few years ago, when a government decree made it necessary to feature metal fi re ladders in buildings, Kgroup became actively involved in the development of this direction, which was an opportunity for them to cooperate with large development companies.
The history of KGroup is connected with the personal experience of its founder, Korneli Khvedelidze. In parallel with his university education, he worked in a metal enterprise, where he studied the nuances and peculiarities of this fi eld, and later decided to start his own independent business. As Khvedelidze, the founder and director of KGroup, said in an interview with "Entrepreneur", starting this business was associated with great risk. In order to start a company and develop its production capacity, he even had to sell his own home, but the risk must always be justifi ed, and the success of Kgroup speaks for itself.
The company has been on the market for seven years, however, it is developing and growing daily. The enterprise originally consisted of two employees, but today it already unites about 50 specialists. "Doing business has taught me to identify people, communicate with them and move towards a set goal. Patience, purposefulness and professionalism are the preconditions for success in any business,” Khvedelidze said.
The company is represented by a wide range of products. This allows customers to order pre-designed, cataloged merchandise as well as custom-designed products. It is practically impossible to bring this number of products to the showroom, which on the one hand may seem like a problem, but on the other hand, greatly simplifi es the selection process and saves customers time and energy.
KGroup stands out in the Georgian market by delivering products to customers in 100% fi nished form. A team of experienced professionals offers a type of service after which the customer no longer has to search for additional resources to get the perfect product or design. Their metal products are processed with modern technology, especially with sand, and thanks to this, they retain their original appearance for a long time. Despite the crisis caused by the pandemic and the increase in the cost of raw materials, Kgroup is trying to maintain a stable and affordable price in the market and create a comfortable environment for customers in this regard.
Founder Korneli Khvedelidze notes that despite the diffi cult period in the pandemic and especially in the construction and repair industry, KGroup has managed to grow and develop. Against the background of this diffi cult situation, the company gained a great experience and saw the need for effective crisis management from a different angle. Despite the abundance of orders, the company serves its customers faithfully and without delay. Kgroup continues to strive for its set goal, which means maximum concentration on the customer and their interests. As of today, the only challenge is the increased time required to deliver products due to COVID situation, as the enterprise ensures the maximum safety of employees and customers, taking into account all established recommendations.
Interest in Kgroup is high among large development companies such as M2, Anagi Development, Element Construction, and Archi Group and. This is only part of the interest in the company, as the demand for services from the construction sector is growing by the day. It is also noteworthy that the quality work of Kgroup and its professional team has made many partner companies want to continue working with them.
Khvedelidze also spoke about his future plans and long-term prospects. During the current year, the enterprise plans to expand, which will be an opportunity to increase productivity and maintain product diversity. He informed us that soon Kgroup will become the largest metal products enterprise in the Caucasus, offering customers products of the highest quality and modern technologies. The company also intends to position itself abroad and export its exclusive products, which will increase awareness not only in the local but also in the international market.
The success of Kgroup is the result of hard work, dedication and professionalism, which may be exemplary and even motivating for young, start-up entrepreneurs. Despite all the diffi culties and the biggest risks, the company continues to develop and grow steadily. Using modern technologies to produce products of the highest quality and individually designed is what makes Kgroup a competitive and distinctive brand in the market.
On December 14, 2019, for the fi rst time in Georgia, a legal entity under public law ‘Mediators Association of Georgia’ was established, the presentation of which took place on February 19, 2020, at hotel Rooms. At the event, the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, Carl Hartzell, and the (now former) Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Program to Georgia, Louisa Vinton, congratulated the public on the offi cial launch of an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
The Chairman of Mediators Association of Georgia, Irakli Kandashvili, in May 2021 was elected as Mediation Committee Chair of the European Association of Lawyers, which is great international recognition for the newly established profession in Georgia. GEORGIA TODAY decided to speak with Mr. Kandashvili to fi nd out more.
UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE PROFESSION OF MEDIATOR IS BEING ACTIVELY DEVELOPED IN GEORGIA. TELL US ABOUT IT.
Mediation is a new word in the Georgian reality, it is a truly unprecedented reform of the last decade, which enables parties to a dispute to resolve a confl ict themselves. I will use this opportunity to thank the European Association of Lawyers for the great confidence they expressed in me in May, when, under their auspices, they selected me as a Chairman of the fi rst-established Mediation Committee, which is a great expression of trust and support for the mediator profession in Georgia. Together, we will develop this profession in Georgia and will contribute to its development throughout Europe.
The Mediators Association of Georgia is accepting a new stream of entrants in June-July of this year. In fact, the profession is very popular, and is gaining trust in society by the day, proof of which can be seen in approximately 80% of cases being settled through mediation, and 96 applicants going through the stage of testing their practical skills to enter the profession. I would like to wish them all success. I’m glad there is such great interest and belief in the profession.
WHAT HAS LED TO THIS INCREASED TRUST AND INTEREST?
The introduction of a new profession and its institutional recognition simultaneously require a solid infrastructural arrangement, as well as increasing public awareness and gaining credibility. We took effective steps in this direction throughout 2020, with Georgian mediators setting up an offi ce.
We have managed, with the involvement of foreign experts, to develop European standards for entering the profession, which, on the one hand builds public confi dence in the qualifi cations of those in the profession, and on the other helps develop a code of professional ethics in accordance with European standards and the rule of disciplinary proceedings.
We also agreed on the need for annual professional development training courses for mediators, as a result of which the public is aware that in this profession they will meet mediators with high professional standards, who are trained annually and whose activities will be based on ethical standards.
Last year, we also introduced an online remote production mediation platform, which during the global pandemic was an effective step on the way to professional development.
Increasing awareness of mediation in society is a priority for the Association, and up to 50 Memoranda of Understanding were signed in this direction with representatives of various public or private sectors, with the support of whom the process of development and establishment of mediation in Georgia will continue successfully.
Among our priorities is the introduction of teaching mediation as an alternative dispute mechanism in secondary and higher education. In this direction, we have a specifi c action plan, which we will consistently implement in 2021.
TELL US ABOUT THAT MANDATORY CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING.
All independent and self-regulating professions should think about developing the qualifi cations of representatives of the profession, which, in turn, generates more public confi dence in the profession. Therefore, by the decision of the General Assembly of the Mediators Association of Georgia, we have made a commitment to annual professional development, and in the near future, we will address Parliament with the initiative to amend the Law on Mediation and set a similar standard at the legislative level.
Today, we are actively working with the United States Agency for International Development on the Rule of Law, with the technical support of which, together with a British expert, we are creating the concept of a continuing professional education system through mediators, which will be mandatory from 2022. This means that each existing mediator will be obliged to take care of the continuous development of their qualifi cations by engaging in learning content activities. This will be another step and an open demonstration of the mediators' high social and corporate responsibility to the country and society as a whole.
